Ladder



.March 5, 1940,

LADDER Filed Sep.. 50, 1938 INVENTOR v H/5 ATTORNEY s. A. McGAw 2,192,521`

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a stepladder, and more particularly to an improved bracket for holding the step of such a ladder.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a bracket having a reinforced brace for rigidly supporting the step.

Another object is to provide a bracket having wing plates along the sides of the brace to prevent twigs and branches of trees from becoming 0 caught by the bracket, and to prevent injury to fruit when the ladder is laid against a tree.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It-is to be understood that Y I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claim.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bracket embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view showing portions of a ladder with the bracket mounted in step-holding position; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken in a plane indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In terms of broad inclusion, the ladder of my invention comprises a runner, a step, a brace lying in the angle between the runner and step, and a ange on the brace for blocking free passage between the brace and runner. The ange prevents twigs and branches from being caught between the brace and runner, and also provides reinforcement for the brace. A plate is also preferably connected to the brace, and against which the end of the step may bear. A tie rod engaging the runner is provided for clamping the step endwise against the plate; and means are provided for further fastening the brace and connected plate to the runner.

In greater detail, and referring to the drawing, the ladder of my invention comprises runners 2 45 for supporting a step 3. The step is` held by brackets lying on the inner sides of the runners, and having sockets for receiving the ends of the step. These brackets are preferably stamped from sheet metal, and the sockets are preferably 5o formed with wall flanges i turned out from a back wall 6. The bottom wall preferably extends outwardly from the face of the socket to form a base plate 'l under the step for additional support. By socket I mean any suitable means for 55 holding the end of the step. Thus, flanges 4 may be omitted and other means provided for fastening the step to back plate 6.

A brace 8 extends back from the outer edge of the lower wall 'Land is bent back at an acute angle toward the runner. The lower end of this 5 brace terminates in a foot portion 9 lying in the plane oi' socket wall 6 and having an aperture H for receiving a bolt i2 engaging the runner. An aperture I3 is also provided at the upper end of brace 8 and is aligned with an aperture I4 in 10 an ear it. The latter is bent down from the bottom Wall of the socket and also lies in the plane of back wall 6. Tie rod Il extends through these apertures and engages runnersZ to clamp step 3 endwise in the sockets.l

Pointed lips yit are also preferably bent back from wall t for penetrating the runner. These lips hold the bracket in position during assembly, and alsovserve as fastening means. When the brackets are in final position lips I8 are securev20 l l ly pressed into the runners by the endwise clamping action of tie rod Il; and an important function of the lips is that of preventing the step from turning should one of the bolts l2 become loosened. 25

Means are provided on brace 8 for reinforcing it and also for closing the openings between the brace and runner. This is accomplished by tri. angularly shaped wing flanges I9 bent back from the side edges of brace 8 and extending across the side openings behind the brace. These Wing anges materially strengthen the brace and stiffen the bracket as a whole; but an equally important function of the wing flanges is to prevent twigs and branches of a tree from being caught by the bracket.

When a step ladder is used near a tree, as in picking fruit, it is desirable that the ladder construction be such that branches do not become caught; otherwise damage to the tree results and fruit is shaken to the ground. Angularly shaped openings in a ladder are especially bad, because* twigs are'very apt to become wedged in them. 'I'he wing flanges I9 on my step brackets pro- 45 vide closures for the angular openings behind the brace, and prevent the entrance of twigs into these spaces. Flanges I9 also preferably flare outwardly somewhat to provide sloping surfaces k for deecting the branches. Another advantage of these flanges is that they remove the sharp edges thatwould otherwise be present along the sides of the brace to cause damage to tree and fruit when the ladder is laid directly against a tree. 5;

I claim:

A ladder bracket for holding a step on a runner comprising a horizontal supporting plate underlying the step, a :dat brace plate integral 5 with said support and extending angularly from the underside of the step to the runner, and a Wing ange along an edge of the brace plate and extending back with an inner free edge adjacent the runner, said wing flange sloping outwardly toward its inner free edge and having an upper edge spaced from said supporting plate.

SIDNEY A. MCGAW. 

